Animal trap



E. F'. MACK ANIMAL TRAP Jan., 26, 932.

Filed May lO, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet Inventor Jan. 26, 1932. E, P. MACK1,842,618

ANIMAL TRAP Filed May lO, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventar 257517] ,/VQC

E, QM @15m Patented Jan. 26, 1932 ANIMAL TRAP Application iled May 10,1928.

lhis invention relates to new and useful improvements in animal trapsand aims to provioe a. silnpie but effective trap consistinggenerally ofa container open at its opposite ends and provided with springcontrolled normally closed doors at the opposite ends, means beingprovided for normally maintaining these doors in open position, butfurther means being' provided within the iiiterior of the container andactuated by the weight of the animal to automatically release the doorsso that they will close, thus trapping the animal therein.

By reason of a trap of this character, an animal can have a clear viewthroughout the entire length of the trap so that he will not be afraidto pass therein in order to reach the bait disposed within thecontainer, it being well known that few, if any animals will pass into acontainer or trap of any kind unless a clear vision can be had entirelytherethrough.

ln the drawings wherein like reference characters indicatecorrespondingl parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the trap, one of the end doors beingarranged in open position, and the opposite end door closed.

TRigore 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a detail longitudinal section.

Figure il is a top side perspective of the animal control release plateor treadle.

Figure 5 is a top side perspective of one of the springcontrolled doors.

Figure 6 is a perspective of one of the door associated springs, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective of one end of the treadle attachedlatch rods constructed at its opposite ends to maintain the doors inopen position, but to automatically release the doors when the rod isturned.

Now having particular reference to the drawings, my novel trap consistsof an 4elongated housing or container 5 of sheet metal or other suitablematerial, preferably of square shape in cross section, and open at itsopposite ends. Suitably journaled within the container 5 in spacedrelation with the hottoin wall thereof and at one side of the containeris a longitudinally extending rod 6.

Serial No. 276,623.

The outer surface of said rod is opposite ends with elongated planeportions ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE formed at its a shoulder 8 Pivotallyarranged transversely within the container 5 direct-ly above the rod 6is a ro ck shaft 9 to the top side of which is secured a trip plate ortreadle 10. Bent around the rod 6 beneath and at one end of the plate ortreadle 10 and secured thereto is a. pair of metallic straps 11--11, theinner ends thereof extending beneath the trip plate or treadle 10 atopposite sides of its supporting shaft 9 so that when the plate ortreadle is swung` downwardly at either side ofthe shaft 9, the said rockshaft 6 will be turned about its axis.

Pivotally connected by pins as shown within the opposite open ends ofthe container or housing 5 directly beneath the top wall thereof aredoors 12-12 normally closed position by suitable coil sp forced intorings 13-13.

At one longitudinal edge of each door 12 there is formed a right annularlen' 141, which when the door 12 is in raised po sition will be inperpendicular position within the open end of the container.

As disclosed more clearly in Figure 3, the lens of these doors are atthe edges adjacent the ends of the rock shaft 6. Obviously thereforewhen the doors are raised and the rock shaft 6 to bringthe planesurfaces 7 thereof into engagement with the lower ends of the legis,said legs will abut against the shoulders 8- turned so as at the innerends of the plane surfaces 7 to lock the doors in raised position.Directly above the trip plate or treadle 10 is a bait hook 15, and itwill of course be apparent that when the plate or treadle tilted ineither direction the shaft 6 will be turned for moving); the shoulders 8out of engagement with the door ler/gs, whereupon the doors willimmediately close under the action of the springs 13ML?, said springsbeing* engaged with the housing 5 and the door 14 as clearly brought outin Figure 3. In order to maintain the doors closed against the acsidewalls of the container at o ends thereof.

FLO

I-Iaving thus described the invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is An animal trap comprising a housing With anopen end, a door connected by a pivot pin to said end of the housing,and having an arm svvingably movable Within the housing, a spring coiledabout said pivot pin and having arms in engagement with the housing andthe door arm, respectively, a longitudinal rock shaft mounted in saidhousing and having an end portion of circular cross section and alsohaving a plane surface in the perimeter of said end portion and ashoulder at the inner end of the plane surface, avertically movableplatform Within the housing, and means Xed to and extending laterallyfrom aid rock shaft and disposed under said platorm.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature. i

EARL P. MACK.

